"あなたの賢さを売って、驚嘆を買いなさい。賢さは単なる意見に過ぎません。驚嘆は直感的な知識をもたらします。"

The essence of this quote is pretty straightforward: it suggests that we should trade our desire to always appear smart for a sense of wonder and curiosity. Being clever often means sticking to the opinions and knowledge we already have, while bewilderment opens us up to new insights and deeper, more intuitive understanding.

Historically speaking, this quote seems to come from a place of wisdom and humility. It's attributed to Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic. Rumi's teachings often emphasized the importance of transcending the ego and embracing a more profound, spiritual kind of knowledge. Imagine living in a time when scholars were revered, but Rumi was urging people to look beyond the surface-level intelligence that society praised.

Let's take a real-life example to bring this idea home. Think of Steve Jobs and his approach to design and technology. Instead of merely relying on what was already known and proven (which is kind of the "clever" way), Jobs often looked at things with fresh eyes—almost like a child seeing something for the first time. This sense of wonder and curiosity led to intuitive leaps that created revolutionary products like the iPhone. He didn't just ask, "What can we improve?" but rather, "What can we imagine?" That's bewilderment in action.

So how can you apply this in your own life? Start by letting go of the need to always be the smartest person in the room. Instead of impressing others with what you know, try asking questions that show you're genuinely curious. Listen more than you speak. When faced with a problem, don't just rely on your tried-and-true methods. Allow yourself to be confused, to not know the answer right away. This creates a space where true innovation can happen.

Picture this: You're at a team meeting at work. Everyone's brainstorming ideas for a new project. Rather than jumping in with your clever solution, you sit back and listen. You notice that the team is stuck in a conventional way of thinking. You then ask a simple question: "What if we approached this from a completely different angle?" This question isn't born from cleverness, but from a place of genuine curiosity and bewilderment. Suddenly, the team starts thinking outside the box, and you land on an idea that's both unique and effective.

In our everyday lives, we often feel the pressure to be right, to have answers. But what if we took a step back and allowed ourselves to be puzzled? Imagine looking at the world through the eyes of a child—everything is new, everything is amazing. That sense of wonder can lead to breakthroughs that mere cleverness can't. So next time you find yourself reaching for the answer that makes you look smart, pause. Embrace the bewilderment. You might just discover something truly remarkable.

This isn't just about work or big projects, by the way. Think about your relationships. When was the last time you approached a conversation with your partner or friend with genuine curiosity, without assuming you already knew what they were going to say? This kind of bewilderment can deepen your connections and lead to more meaningful interactions.

So, sell your cleverness. Buy some bewilderment. You won't regret it.